Top Gun Has Entered My Airspace

I knew my husband had watched the movie Top Gun too many times when our four-year-old, Justin, took on a new personality. He asked his pre-school teacher, “Can you call me Mav? It’s short for Maverick.” He’d gone to the grocery store with my mom and told her, “Nan, this is a target rich environment,” when he noticed all the ladies in the store.

I’d call him in for dinner and he’d yell back, “Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.” One morning at breakfast he told Scott, “I feel the need…the need for speed!” Where did my four-year-old go?

When I heard him yelling in his room I rushed upstairs to hear, “I’m hit! I’m hit! Viper, they’re on my tail!” He was seriously in movie mode. His sisters complained that he was annoying. “Jamie moaned, “My friends were here and he runs in my room asking “Any of you guys seen an aircraft-carrier around here? This is ridiculous! Then he flew out of the room like a jet yelling something about having tone!” I vowed to have Scott talk to him.

When Scott came home, I told him about Maverick. I mean Justin. He laughed until Justin came by, “Hey Dad, this is Ghost Rider 117. This bogey is all over me. Do I have permission to fire?” Scott looked at me and said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have let him watch the movie with me so many times. He reasoned with Justin, “Top Gun is only a movie.” Justin responded, “Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash.” Scott sat in the chair and rubbed his forehead. A few minutes later, he buzzed by saying, “Slider, you stink!”

When my dad came over, Justin asked, “Hey Pop, do you want to buzz the tower?” My dad asked, “What tower?” Justin had to think about it. He changed the subject, “I’m going to need some beers to put these flames out.”Pop shook his head and said, “Hey Justin, forget the beer. Let’s go buzz that tower.”

They were getting in my dad’s truck when I hear Justin say, “I want some butts and I want them now!” My dad laughed and said. “Hey Mav, put on your seat belt. Got your parachute?” “Yes Sir! Maverick signing off!” he announced as he saluted.

There is just something about a military man that makes me proud, especially when he’s four.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

My Books

My Newest Book on Amazon

Also Available on Amazon

Hi! I’m Anne Bardsley.

…..Over the years, my work has appeared in Erma Bombeck’s humorwriters.org, Scary Mommy, Better After 50, Midlife Bouldvard, The MID, The WIRL Project, The Island Reporter, and others. I am currently working on my next book, Angel Bumps. See the call for submission tab if you’d like to share a story.

I was celebrating my birthday morning in Passa-Grille, our favorite beach spot. The water was calm. The Paradise Grille was serving breakfast. I inhaled the aromas of bacon and french toast as I sipped my mimosa. If it’s my birthday, there is always a mimosa. I leaned back in my chair and tried to imagine…